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Zambian rapper won’t stop criticising government

Freedom of expression remains a worrisome subject in most African countries, prompting many artists to practice self-censorship. Music plays a significant role in people’s lives and artists use it as a medium to express their identity. However, many artists are prevented from doing so due to various political and religious ideologies

A warrant of arrest is in place for pilAto.

In Africa, politics play a big role in muzzling and intimidating musicians. Some governments are on record for creating draconian laws bent on silencing artists. A good example is Zimbabwe where chimurenga musician Thomas Mapfumo fled the country for the US in 2005 after his ‘Hokoyo’ (Watch Out) song caught the attention of then Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s government. Mapfumo recently said he would return to Zimbabwe following a change in leadership late last year.

Like Mapfumo, Zambian hip hop artist pilAto (People in Lyrical Arena Taking Over) fled the country two weeks ago to South Africa when his song ‘Koswe Mumpoto’ (Rat in the Pot) was perceived as a criticism of President Edgar Lungu.

But Zambia’s high commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba, reportedly denied that the musician had been threatened. "There is no threat whatsoever being unleashed against the artist,” Mwamba said. “There are no threats at all either from the government, the ruling party or state security organs.”

Most of pilAto’s songs are political, dealing with poverty and social issues affecting Zambian people. In 2010, he released a song mockingly labelling non-performing Zambian MPs as "mental patients". This was followed by ‘Bufi’ (2013) – a highly politically charged song that tagged the late Zambian president Michael Sata as a "father of lies". The song was met with resistance from the ruling party, which saw tactics of intimidation carried out against him.

Born Fumba Chama, the award-winning artist, whose music is highly influenced by his rough upbringing, spoke to Music In Africa about his ‘Koswe Mumpoto’ song, intimidation, the state of freedom expression in Zambia and his relationship with Lungu’s government.

MUSIC IN AFRICA: Reports say you fled the country after releasing ‘Koswe Mumpoto’. Is this true?

PILATO: It is true that I left Zambia because my life was threatened after releasing the ‘Koswe Mumpoto’ song. I am out of my own country because I want to stay alive and unharmed.

What is the song all about?

The song talks about a type of leadership that steals instead of serving those that entrusted them the leadership. It’s a song about a self-serving type of leadership. The song is satire, it’s an analogy that represents leaders that behave like rats.

How was the song received after its release?

The response has been great. I am grateful for the support I have received.

Reports say you were threatened. Did you report this to the police?

I was threatened by the ruling party's thugs who have been behind several political assault crimes. I did not report to the police because the police have lost their power to these thugs who even brutalise and hack people even at the police station.

Do you think President Lungu accepts criticism from musicians?

I have no evidence that he does accept criticism from anyone. I am so sure he doesn't accept criticism even from himself.

A warrant of arrest was issued for your failure to attend a court hearing. Did you know about this court hearing before you left?

No. I wasn’t aware as I had been to the courts several times and we were told the courts had not received the cases from the station that arrested us. It’s a lie that I ran away from the courts, the court cases are just starting now, and they were never there.

What’s the state of freedom of expression in Zambia?

The current leadership appears to be so committed to taking away freedom of expression from anyone who disagrees with either the government or the political party that is in power. Anyone who expresses a divergent view risks losing their job if they are civil servants or imprisonment. In the past we have had a student who was arrested for opposing the arrest of the leader of the opposition party. Recently a certain doctor in Western Province was convicted for three years for expressing his views. I have personally been arrested for protesting against a scandalous procurement of fire trucks at a much exaggerated price.

Will you continue releasing songs that criticise the government?

Yes of course I will. As long as we are not the best country in the world I will continue contributing to the betterment of my country through music.

What’s your message to fellow artists and the Zambian people regarding the state of affairs in the country?

I would like them to search their hearts and live the things they believe.

What should the government do to improve the state of the music industry in your country?

The best place is to invest in the sector and formulate policies that would benefit the state and the artist. The industry lacks modern and necessary infrastructure to adequately sustain the music industry. Anti-piracy laws must be reinforced so that the government can benefit more alongside the makers of music.

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